Who to Watch at Chicago Ideas Week 2012: Simon Majumdar

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There's a lot to wrap your mind around with the approaching Chicago Ideas Week, the weeklong invasion of super-smart and super-influential folks taking place at venues all over town from Oct. 8 to 14.

We're helping with a series of speaker profiles designed to highlight the speakers who will benefit you, the Chicago entrepreneur. There are just over 100-plus speakers announced so far, and more to come.

Accolades: In the simplest terms, Majumdar is a food writer and broadcaster. Only, he’s authored two bestselling food and travel memoirs and is also a mainstay judge on the Food Network, where he’s earned himself a reputation as the “toughest critic.” So, he’s like the Simon Cowell of entrées.

Why you should care: Simon worked a job he didn’t like for 20 years before suddenly realizing “that there had to be more to [his] existence than the 9-5 daily grind.” So, he did something about it. It’s refreshing to hear, because I feel like many people equate successful entrepreneurship as something that’s synonymous with youth. And not that 40 years old is that old, but it’s inspiring to be reminded that people’s lives have unexpected arcs -- and that every time you feel like you might be painted into a corner, you can always just go into another room.

When you can see him: Oct. 14, 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Edlies Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

David Wolinsky is a freelance writer and a lifelong Chicagoan. In addition to currently serving as an interviewer-writer for Adult Swim, he's also a comedy-writing instructor for Second City. He was the Chicago city editor for The Onion A.V. Club where he provided in-depth daily coverage of this city's bustling arts/entertainment scene for half a decade. When not playing video games for work he's thinking of dashing out to Chicago Diner, Pizano's, or Yummy Yummy. His first career aspirations were to be a game-show host.